Imax Corporation (NYSE: IMAX; TSX: IMX) and Marvel Entertainment, LLC announced today that Marvel's Iron Man 3(TM) grossed an estimated $1.54 million (?9,710,312) at 101 Imax theatres in China during its first day, Wednesday, May 1. Combined with midnight screenings, the Imax total box office in China for the film is now $1.8 million, shattering the previous opening-day record set by Titanic in 2012 by 52%.

The film opens across North America tonight at 9 p.m. local time.

Iron Man 3's strong first day in Imax theatres in China also follows its record-breaking Imax openings last weekend in Brazil, Taiwan, the Philippines, the Netherlands and many other territories. The film opened to $7.2 million in 113 Imax theatres internationally and grossed a stunning $198.4 million overall, finishing No. 1 in all 42 territories in which it premiered.

"Hats off to Marvel and the Iron Man 3 filmmaking team for creating such a globally appealing film that fans are clearly seeking out in the Imax format, given our strong percentage of the overall box office," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of Imax Entertainment. "We can't wait to see it premiere in North America this weekend."

Marvel's Iron Man 3 pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy's hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible. This journey, at every turn, will test his mettle. With his back against the wall, Stark is left to survive by his own devices, relying on his ingenuity and instincts to protect those closest to him. As he fights his way back, Stark discovers the answer to the question that has secretly haunted him: does the man make the suit or does the suit make the man?